Abstract
Powassan virus lineage II or deer tick virus (DTV) is a rare but increasingly reported human infection in the United States transmitted by Ixodes scapularis ticks. The virus is thought to be maintained in environmental foci that are optimal for tick and vertebrate reservoirs, but details on DTV ecology are poorly understood. We investigated DTV tick infection rates and reservoir host abundance in a focus of consistent DTV activity in Maine, USA. Host and tick abundance, vegetation, and microclimate conditions were measured in three forest sites representing increasing invasive understory infestation. Sites were selected representing native understory, mixed vegetation with some invasive Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), and a highly invasive site dominated by Japanese barberry. Japanese barberry in the mixed vegetation site averaged 1 m in height with space between plants, whereas the highly invasive site had impenetrable Japanese barberry over 1.5 m. The DTV infection rate was greater in the highly invasive site. Density of I. scapularis ticks were significantly lower in the native forest site, and no DTV was found. Another feature of the DTV focus was more stable humid microclimate throughout the year compared with the other sites and a nearby continuous section of forest, consistent with reports from Connecticut, USA. We conclude that invasive Japanese barberry stands provide favorable and consistent microclimate conditions to maintain high DTV infection rates annually among questing I. scapularis ticks. Understanding environmental and landscape features that support high infection rates could lead to the identification of high-risk habitats for contracting DTV.